DOT Required Observed Collections

DOT Requires you to Notify Drivers for an Immediate Observed Collection without any Prior Notice.

🟢 Drug Testing Instructions (Observed Collections)

• 🟢 Order Online in your Express Labs Account
• 🟢 Use Quest Paper Forms provided by Express Labs (if online ordering is unavailable)
• 🔴 Drug Test Results from other Companies are NOT accepted once Enrolled with Express Labs

🟢 Step 1: Go to Order Drug Tests (Top Left Tabs)

• 🔴 Select the Reason-for-Testing (Return-to-Duty or Follow-Up)
• 🔵 If the Original Reason was Pre-Employment: Select Return-to-Duty
• 🔵 If the Original Reason was Random: Select Follow-Up
• Find a Collection Site (Enter Zip Code)
• Order the Drug Test

🟢 Step 2: Check your Email for the QPassport (within 1 hour from Quest)

• Add noreply@questdiagnostics.com to your email settings to avoid missing emails
• Charges apply to Completed Test Results not Orders

🟢 Step 3: Drivers must Bring the QPassport to the Collection Site

• The Collector will Scan the Barcode that is listed on the QPassport from the Driver’s Phone or bring the Printed Copy of the QPassport.  QPassports are only valid for the Collection Site listed on them

🔴 Step 4: Call the Site to Confirm they are Open and Conducting Drug Testing

• 🟢 Notify Drivers after you have received the QPassport and Called the Site to Confirm they are Open and they have a Collector who is the Same Gender who can perform an Observed Collection
• 🔵 Some Sites may not Start a Collection within 3 Hours of Closing or may have Reduced Hours

🔵 What is an Observed Collection?

• The Collector (Same Gender as Driver) accompanies the Driver into the restroom.  The Collector must directly watch the urine stream go from the Driver’s body into the Collection Container.  The Driver must raise their shirt above the navel and lower clothing to mid-thigh to ensure no devices are used to cheat the test.  The Collector signs Documentation affirming the process was completed according to DOT guidelines

🔴 What is Abnormal PH?

In a DOT Drug Test, an Abnormal PH Level in a Urine Sample could indicate that the Sample has been Adulterated or Substituted with another Substance.  Urine pH measures the Acidity or Alkalinity of Urine, with a Normal Range of 4.5 to 8

• Abnormal pH levels outside this Range could be a sign of Tampering or Dilution
• Adulteration or Substitution of Urine Samples is a Common Practice among Drivers attempting to Cheat a Drug Test
• Therefore, an Abnormal PH Level in a DOT Drug Test could result in Retesting the Driver under Direct Observation, to ensure the Accuracy and Validity of the Results

🔴 What is Immunoassay Interference?

In a DOT Immunoassay Interference with Creatinine Levels can occur due to various factors.  Creatinine is a waste product produced by muscle metabolism and is typically measured in urine to assess kidney function and to detect dilution attempts in Drug Tests.  Immunoassays are commonly used in Drug Testing to detect the Presence of Specific Drugs or their Metabolites.  Interference with Creatinine Levels in Immunoassays can lead to False-Positive or False-Negative Results in Drug Tests.  Some Substances may Interfere with Creatinine Measurements in Immunoassays Include:

• High Creatinine Levels: Extremely high Creatinine levels in Urine can sometimes interfere with the immunoassay process, leading to inaccurate Results
• Low Creatinine Levels: Conversely, very low levels of Creatinine in urine may also cause interference, potentially leading to false-negative results
• Medications: Certain medications or drugs can interfere with creatinine measurements or the immunoassay process itself
• Metabolites: Some substances or their metabolites may cross-react with the immunoassay reagents, leading to false-positive results
• Therefore, Immunoassay Interference in a DOT Drug Test could result in Retesting the Driver under Direct Observation, to ensure the Accuracy and Validity of the Results

🔴 What is Invalid Creatinine?

In a DOT Drug Test, Invalid Creatinine means the Creatinine Level in the Urine Sample is Unusual or Out-of-Range. Creatinine is a Waste Product from Muscles and helps verify if the Urine Sample is Legitimate.  Here’s what it might mean:

• Dilution: A very Low Creatinine Level can Indicate the Urine was Diluted, possibly to hide Drug use.
• Substitution: It might suggest the Urine is not Genuine, like if someone used someone else's Urine or a Fake Sample
• Therefore, an Invalid Creatinine Level in a DOT Drug Test could result in Retesting the Driver under Direct Observation, to ensure the Accuracy and Validity of the Results

🔴 What is Temperature-out-of-Range?

For a DOT Drug Test, the Temperature of the Urine Sample is a crucial factor in ensuring its Validity.  The Acceptable Temperature Range for a Urine Sample is between 90°F to 100°F (32°C to 38°C) at the time of Collection.  This Temperature Range is considered Normal Body Temperature and is necessary to indicate that the Sample is Fresh and hasn't been Tampered with or Substituted.

• If the Temperature of the Urine Sample falls Outside this Range, it could raise Suspicions of Tampering, Dilution, or Substitution, Potentially Invalidating the Test. Therefore, if the Sample's Temperature is Below 90°F or Above 100°F, the Driver will be asked to provide a 2nd Sample under Direct Observation
• If the Driver leaves the Collection Site after the Collection Process has Started, this is a Refusal to Complete the Test. Refusal-to-Test is treated similarly to a Positive Test Result
• Therefore, a Temperature-out-of-Range in a DOT Drug Test could result in Retesting the Driver under Direct Observation, to ensure the Accuracy and Validity of the Results

🔴 What is Specific Gravity?

The Urine Sample provided by the Driver does not meet the Required Specific Gravity Range set by DOT Regulations.  Specific Gravity measures of the Concentration of Substances Dissolved in the Urine.  It indicates the Sample's Density compared to pure water and helps assess whether the Sample has been Diluted or Tampered with.  Results Outside this Range may Indicate:

• Dilution: The Urine Sample may have been Intentionally or Unintentionally Diluted, possibly to hide Drug use
• Adulteration: Substances may have been added to the Sample to Alter Test Results
• Therefore, an Invalid Result for Specific Gravity in a DOT Drug Test could result in Retesting the Driver under Direct Observation to rule out Tampering or Dilution

🔴 Refusal-to-Test Instructions

DOT Requires Employers to Remove Drivers from the Road Immediately and give Drivers an SAP Referral who Refuse-to-Test

• DOT Requires Employers to Remove Drivers from the Road Immediately, give Drivers an SAP Referral & Report the Violation (Refusal-to-Test) to the FMCSA Clearinghouse
• DOT Requires the DER (Designated Employer Representative) to make the Determination if a Driver has Refused-to-Test based on Conversations with the Driver, Collector and any Notes on the Custody & Control Form
• DOT's Definition of Refusal-To-Test (Page 25) - Click Here

🔵 Find an SAP Referral (Substance Abuse Professional) - Click Here

• SAPlist.com is a Database to find a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP).  Document the Driver was given an SAP Referral

🔵 Reporting Violations to the FMCSA Clearinghouse - Click Here

• Employers must Report Refusal-to-Tests to the FMCSA Clearinghouse

🔴 What if an Employer does not Notify a Driver Required by DOT to get an Observed Collection?

If an employer fails to notify a driver that they are required to undergo an observed collection as mandated by the Department of Transportation (DOT), several consequences could arise, including:

• Non-Compliance with DOT Regulations: The employer would be in violation of 49 CFR Part 40, which outlines drug and alcohol testing procedures for safety-sensitive employees in transportation industries
• Potential Enforcement Actions: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) may take enforcement action against the employer, which could include fines or penalties for failing to follow proper testing procedures
• Increased Liability for the Employer: If the driver was required to undergo an observed collection due to a previous test violation (such as a shy bladder situation, a substituted or adulterated specimen, or a direct observation requirement for return-to-duty or follow-up testing), the employer may be held liable if the driver continues safety-sensitive duties without proper clearance
• Operational and Legal Risks: If the driver is later found to have violated drug and alcohol policies (e.g., testing positive or refusing a test), the employer could face further legal risks, particularly if an accident occurs involving that driver